Me’Liha Pearson, a 12th-grade student at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, is talking to students at the school about their thoughts on the growing use of artificial intelligence in classrooms. With AI tools becoming more common for homework, essays, and studying, students and teachers are debating whether it actually helps learning or just makes things easier.

Across the country, teachers have noticed students relying on AI more than on themselves. Some worry that students are turning in work they didn’t fully understand or that they might struggle on tests because they didn’t actually learn the material.They also say this could hurt skills like critical thinking, problem solving, and reading comprehension skills students need for college and beyond.

At ERHS, students see both sides of the issue. Myiah Pearson, a junior, said AI can be helpful, but shouldn’t replace thinking for yourself. “I think AI can help you learn but you shouldn’t use it all the time because at times you need to figure things out on your own,” she said. She also worried that too much reliance on AI can leave students unprepared. “They might not know what’s really going on.”

Taj Browne, a senior, shared similar concerns. “What worries me most is that some students might start depending on AI instead of thinking for themselves. Then when tests come they won’t know anything,” he said. Still, he said AI can be useful when used the right way. “I think AI helps me learn, but only if I use it the right way. When I don’t understand something it can explain it in a way that actually makes sense.”

This topic matters because it affects how students learn, how teachers grade work, and how fair the classroom feels. Schools are still figuring out how to set rules that let students use AI responsibly without losing important skills.This  gives students at ERHS a chance to share their thoughts and help shape classrooms in the future.